BhutanTimes

19

07

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen Inaugurates Ozone Park

Motithang Park in Thimphu was declared an ‘Ozone Park’. With the support from Thimphu Thromde, the park was remodelled into an ozone advocacy park.

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol.(Source: http://www.kuenselonline.com)

Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol yesterday. The aim of the Protocol is to protect the ozone layer in Thimphu.

Dignitaries and senior officials from the government, United Nations and private sector attended the event organised by National Environment Commission.

Motithang Park in Thimphu declared an ‘Ozone Park’

At the event, the Motithang Park in Thimphu was declared an ‘Ozone Park’. With the support from Thimphu Thromde, the park was remodelled into an ozone advocacy park.

It provides information on the history of ozone and many countries’ initiatives towards the protection of the ozone layer since the discovery of the hole in the early 1980s.

A coffee table book that documents 25 years of the conservation of the environment was also launched.

Success of the Montreal Protocol

According to the press release from the Royal Office for Media, the Montreal Protocol has been the most successful environment treaty of the United Nations. It is the only one to receive universal endorsement with 197 member states unanimously coming together to phase out chemicals that were damaging the ozone layer.

“Protecting the ozone layer remains an important endeavour, and these efforts have been bolstered by Her Majesty’s support as the United Nations Environment Programme Ozone Ambassador. The lesson from the success of the Protocol is being used in efforts to achieve similar collective action for climate change today.”

As a result of the protocol, more than 99 percent of the ozone depleting substances have been phased out in Bhutan. They have been replaced with more effective and safer alternatives for the protection of the ozone layer.

Bhutan’s aim to maintain a pristine environment

Bhutan has phased out Chlorofluorocarbons in 2010 and is currently working towards phasing out of the HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon) 22.

Bhutan targets to phase out HCFC 22 by 2025 under the HCFC phase out management plan. This is in line with Bhutan’s strong commitment towards maintaining a pristine environment.